Novel mutation in HTRA1 in a family with diffuse white matter lesions and inflammatory features

Case report: Heterozygous mutation in HTRA1 causing typical cerebral autosomal recessive arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy

Background: Cerebral autosomal recessive arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CARASIL) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by baldness, recurrent ischemic stroke, lumbago, headache, and dementia which is closely related to homozygous mutations of the high-temperature requirement serine peptidase A1 (HTRA1) gene. Heterozygous mutations of HTRA1 are usually considered to be non-pathogenic. Although it has been revealed that only a few patients with heterozygous mutations could present some manifestations, their clinical symptoms were atypical, milder, and always with a lower frequency of extra-neurological features. Here, a rare patient with heterozygous mutation of HTRA1 who had all typical features of CARASIL as well as severe clinical symptoms and rapid progression was initially reported in our study. Case presentation: A 43-year-old female patient presented with a gradual onset of headache and cognitive decline. As time progressed, her headache intensified and symptoms of dementia began to manifest gradually. During her early years, she had thinning hair and subsequently experienced two occurrences of ischemic strokes in her thirties. Furthermore, she also had a history of lumbago and urinary retention before visiting our hospital. The patient's magnetic resonance imaging revealed the presence of widespread white matter lesions, infarctions, and microbleeds, in addition to lumbar disc herniation and degenerative lesions. The observed clinical characteristics had a strong correlation with CARASIL, and the patient was diagnosed with a heterozygous missense mutation of 905G>A (Arg302Gln) in the HTRA1 gene. The patient has been under continuous follow-up for a duration exceeding 3 years subsequent to her release from the hospital. She underwent cystostomy, and symptoms of bulbar paralysis developed in a progressive way. Currently, there has been a notable decrease in motor function and activities of daily living, resulting in the individual being confined to bed for a duration exceeding 1 year. Conclusion: This case suggests that patients carrying a heterozygous mutation in G905A may also have typical clinical features of CARASIL, which allows us to have a more comprehensive understanding of CARASIL.

Report of two pedigrees with heterozygous HTRA1 variants-related cerebral small vessel disease and literature review

BACKGROUND

Biallelic HTRA1 pathogenic variants are associated with autosomal recessive cerebral arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CARASIL). Recent studies have indicated that heterozygous HTRA1 variants are related to autosomal dominant hereditary cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). However, few studies have assessed heterozygous HTRA1 carriers or the genotype-phenotype correlation.

METHODS

The clinical data of two unrelated Chinese Han families with CSVD were collected. Panel sequencing was used to search for pathogenic genes, Sanger sequencing was used for verification, three-dimensional protein models were constructed, and pathogenicity was analyzed. Published HTRA1-related phenotypes included in PubMed up to September 2021 were extensively reviewed, and the patients' genetic and clinical characteristics were summarized.

RESULTS

We report a novel heterozygous variant c.920T>C p.L307P in the HTRA1, whose main clinical and neuroimaging phenotypes are stroke and gait disturbance. We report another patient with the previously reported pathogenic variant HTRA1 c.589C>T p.R197X characterized by early cognitive decline. A literature review indicated that compared with CARASIL, HTRA1-related autosomal dominant hereditary CSVD has a later onset age, milder clinical symptoms, fewer extraneurological symptoms, and slower progression, indicating a milder CARASIL phenotype. In addition, HTRA1 heterozygous variants were related to a higher proportion of vascular risk factors (p < .001) and male sex (p = .022).

CONCLUSION

These findings broaden the known mutational spectrum and possible clinical phenotype of HTRA1. Considering the semidominant characteristics of HTRA1-related phenotypes, we recommend that all members of HTRA1 variant families undergo genetic screening and clinical follow-up if carrying pathogenic variants.

HtrA1L364P leads to cognitive dysfunction and vascular destruction through TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway in CARASIL model mice

AIMS

Cerebral autosomal recessive arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CARASIL) is a life-threatening, inherited, nonhypertensive arteriole disease of the brain. Therapeutic strategy for CARASIL is limited because its pathogenesis is not clear. We previously reported the first family with CARASIL in China, which involves a high-temperature requirement serine protease gene mutation (HtrA1^L364P ). Based on this previous study, we constructed a CARASIL mouse model (Mut-hHtrA1^L364P mouse, hereinafter referred to as Mut). This paper aimed to systematically study the behavior, pathology, and molecular biology of Mut mice and explore the pathogenesis and possible therapeutic strategies of CARASIL.

METHODS

Food maze and water maze experiments were used in the behavioral studies. Pathological studies were carried out by arteriole labeling staining and electron microscopy. The mRNA and protein expression levels of the key factors of TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway (TGF-β, Smad2, Smad3, and Smad4) in the brain of the model mice were detected by immunohistochemistry, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and Western blot assay.

RESULTS

The food maze and water maze experiment data showed significant differences between the Mut and wild-type (WT) mice in the first time to find food, the time to contact the escape table for the first time, and the number of times to travel in the escape table quadrant (p < 0.001). The results of vascular labeling staining showed that some small arteries in the brain of Mut mice lost normal structure. The results of electron microscopy showed that the cell morphologies in the cortex and hippocampus of Mut mice were abnormal; the number of synapses was reduced; the walls of capillaries, venules, and arterioles thickened; lumen stenosis and other abnormal phenomenon occurred; and lipofuscin deposition and autophagosomes were found in the hippocampus. Immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, and Western Blot results showed that the mRNA and protein expression levels of TGF-β, Smad2, and Smad3 in the brain of Mut mice increased to different degrees.

CONCLUSIONS

The most significant innovation of this study is the first study on the pathogenesis of CARASIL disease using model animals. The Mut mice can well simulate the pathogenesis of CARASIL in behavioral and pathological aspects. The TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway, which is involved in the pathogenesis of CARASIL, is abnormally upregulated in the brain of Mut mice.

Novel In-Frame Deletion in HTRA1 Gene, Responsible for Stroke at a Young Age and Dementia-A Case Study

Biallelic mutations in the high-temperature requirement A serine peptidase 1 (HTRA1) gene are known to cause an extremely rare cerebral autosomal recessive arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CARASIL), which belongs to the group of hereditary cerebral small vessel diseases and is mainly observed in the Japanese population. Even though this pathology is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, recent studies have described symptomatic carriers with heterozygous HTRA1 mutations who have milder symptoms than patients with biallelic HTRA1 mutations. We present the case of a Lithuanian male patient who had a stroke at the age of 36, experienced several transient ischemic attacks, and developed an early onset, progressing dementia. These clinical symptoms were associated with extensive leukoencephalopathy, lacunar infarcts, and microbleeds based on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A novel heterozygous in-frame HTRA1 gene deletion (NM_002775.5:c.533_535del; NP_002766.1:p.(Lys178del)) was identified by next generation sequencing. The variant was consistent with the patient's phenotype, which could not be explained by alternative causes, appeared highly deleterious after in silico analysis, and was not reported in the medical literature or population databases to date.

Heterozygous HTRA1 nonsense or frameshift mutations are pathogenic

Heterozygous missense HTRA1 mutations have been associated with an autosomal dominant cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) whereas the pathogenicity of heterozygous HTRA1 stop codon variants is unclear. We performed a targeted high throughput sequencing of all known CSVD genes, including HTRA1, in 3853 unrelated consecutive CSVD patients referred for molecular diagnosis. The frequency of heterozygous HTRA1 mutations leading to a premature stop codon in this patient cohort was compared with their frequency in large control databases. An analysis of HTRA1 mRNA was performed in several stop codon carrier patients. Clinical and neuroimaging features were characterized in all probands. Twenty unrelated patients carrying a heterozygous HTRA1 variant leading to a premature stop codon were identified. A highly significant difference was observed when comparing our patient cohort with control databases: gnomAD v3.1.1 [P = 3.12 × 10-17, odds ratio (OR) = 21.9], TOPMed freeze 5 (P = 7.6 × 10-18, OR = 27.1) and 1000 Genomes (P = 1.5 × 10-5). Messenger RNA analysis performed in eight patients showed a degradation of the mutated allele strongly suggesting a haploinsufficiency. Clinical and neuroimaging features are similar to those previously reported in heterozygous missense mutation carriers, except for penetrance, which seems lower. Altogether, our findings strongly suggest that heterozygous HTRA1 stop codons are pathogenic through a haploinsufficiency mechanism. Future work will help to estimate their penetrance, an important information for genetic counselling.

Genetically Confirmed CARASIL: Case Report with Novel HTRA1 Mutation and Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Cerebral autosomal recessive arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CARASIL) is an extremely rare monogenic autosomal disease associated with the HtrA serine protease 1 (HTRA 1) gene mutation. Recently, a few genetically confirmed CARASIL cases with novel HTRA1 mutations have been reported in countries other than Japan.

CASE DESCRIPTION

Here, we report a case of a patient presenting with worsening right hemiplegia and hemiparesthesia. Physical examination revealed that the patient had typical clinical features of CARASIL including thinning hair, cognitive impairment, emotional changes, lumbago, and gait disorder. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed abnormal diffuse symmetric changes in white matter and hypertensive diffusion-weighted imaging signals in the left centrum ovale and right splenium of the corpus callosum, and susceptibility-weighted imaging showed multiple cerebral microbleeds. Lumbar magnetic resonance imaging showed herniated disks with degenerative changes. A genetic test showed a novel homozygous nucleotide variation of c.847G>T in the HTRA1 gene, thereby resulting in p.Gly283Ter. Thus the patient met the diagnostic criteria for CARASIL. We provide a literature review of genetically confirmed CARASIL cases reported to date.

CONCLUSIONS

CARASIL is a rare autosomal recessive disease with an HTRA1 mutation. Familiarity with the early clinical and imaging features of CARASIL combined with a genetic test is key for its early diagnosis.

HTRA1-related autosomal dominant cerebral small vessel disease

BACKGROUND

Homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in high temperature requirement serine peptidase A1 (HTRA1) gene are responsible for cerebral autosomal recessive arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CARASIL). Recently, increasing evidence has shown that heterozygous HTRA1 mutations are also associated with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. This study was aimed to analyze the genetic and clinical characteristics of HTRA1-related autosomal dominant CSVD.

METHODS

We presented three new Chinese cases of familial CSVD with heterozygous HTRA1 mutations and reviewed all clinical case reports and articles on HTRA1-related autosomal dominant CSVD included in PUBMED by the end of March 1, 2020. CARASIL probands with genetic diagnosis reported to date were also reviewed. The genetic and clinical characteristics of HTRA1-related autosomal dominant CSVD were summarized and analyzed by comparing with CARASIL.

RESULTS

Forty-four HTRA1-related autosomal dominant CSVD probands and 22 CARASIL probands were included. Compared with typical CARASIL, HTRA1-related autosomal dominant probands has a higher proportion of vascular risk factors (P < 0.001), a later onset age (P < 0.001), and a relatively slower clinical progression. Alopecia and spondylosis can be observed, but less than those in the typical CARASIL. Thirty-five heterozygous mutations in HTRA1 were reported, most of which were missense mutations. Amino acids located close to amino acids 250-300 were most frequently affected, followed by these located near 150∼200. While amino acids 250∼300 were also the most frequently affected region in CARASIL patients, fewer mutations precede the 200th amino acids were detected, especially in the Kazal-type serine protease domain.

CONCLUSIONS

HTRA1-related autosomal dominant CSVD is present as a mild phenotype of CARASIL. The trend of regional concentration of mutation sites may be related to the concentration of key sites in these regions which are responsible for pathogenesis of HTRA1-related autosomal dominant CSVD.

HTRA1-Related Cerebral Small Vessel Disease: A Review of the Literature

Cerebral autosomal recessive arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CARASIL) is clinically characterized by early-onset dementia, stroke, spondylosis deformans, and alopecia. In CARASIL cases, brain magnetic resonance imaging reveals severe white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), lacunar infarctions, and microbleeds. CARASIL is caused by a homozygous mutation in high-temperature requirement A serine peptidase 1 (HTRA1). Recently, it was reported that several heterozygous mutations in HTRA1 also cause cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). Although patients with heterozygous HTRA1-related CSVD (symptomatic carriers) are reported to have a milder form of CARASIL, little is known about the clinical and genetic differences between the two diseases. Given this gap in the literature, we collected clinical information on HTRA1-related CSVD from a review of the literature to help clarify the differences between symptomatic carriers and CARASIL and the features of both diseases. Forty-six symptomatic carriers and 28 patients with CARASIL were investigated. Twenty-eight mutations in symptomatic carriers and 22 mutations in CARASIL were identified. Missense mutations in symptomatic carriers are more frequently identified in the linker or loop 3 (L3)/loop D (LD) domains, which are critical sites in activating protease activity. The ages at onset of neurological symptoms/signs were significantly higher in symptomatic carriers than in CARASIL, and the frequency of characteristic extraneurological findings and confluent WMHs were significantly higher in CARASIL than in symptomatic carriers. As previously reported, heterozygous HTRA1-related CSVD has a milder clinical presentation of CARASIL. It seems that haploinsufficiency can cause CSVD among symptomatic carriers according to the several patients with heterozygous nonsense/frameshift mutations. However, the differing locations of mutations found in the two diseases indicate that distinct molecular mechanisms influence the development of CSVD in patients with HTRA1-related CSVD. These findings further support continued careful examination of the pathogenicity of mutations located outside the linker or LD/L3 domain in symptomatic carriers.